Munich marathon and 10km run

the usual 42.2km...

http://www.medienmarathon.de/

I'm giving this some serious consideration. I managed a half last summer and have wanted to do a marathon for a while.

I'll need to get some training in though, I haven't put my trainers on since November

@Pascoe

I watched it in Marienplatz this Autumn. Poor sods. Weather looked terrible. Have always wanted to do Berlin, and have a place.

Have you done Berlin yet? Any thoughts?

ps. doing Berlin half though this summer. Any thoughts?

I did the Munich marathon in 2003 and it was a b@stardo and a half and that was in relatively decent weather. Why they don't put it on BEFORE the Oktoberfest anyway I'll never know. I don't know if I'd have the discipline to train up for a full one again but the sound of doing one in Berlin makes it more appealing. A half might make more sense though as my knees would probably fall apart thereafter.

I'm definitely in for it this year. Will be doing the regensburg half (May) and Munich half (June) as well.

I will be running the half in June and the full marathon in October in Munich. both runs are my first ones so i am pretty excited and nervous. a good friend of mine is running the london marathon this weekend for the first time and hopefully her report will be encouraging...

@More tea, Vicar?
Have done Munich twice although I lived in Berlin for very long. They don't feed you half as well in Berlin as in Munich. The crowds are nice though. Berlin is said to be the fastest Marathon in Germany.


Did the half in Berlin three times. Enjoyed it every time. But like I said, besides half a banana now and then there's not really a lot to eat. The showering facililities were rotten in comparison to Munich, the stretch itself is more picturesque than the full marathon. Don't like the route they picked for the full marathon, not that much to see. Depends what you like I guess. The crowds really support you though, many participants dress in funny costumes and do the whole stretch wearing that stuff.

Moral of the story? The half you'll definitely enjoy, I'm sure!

Did the Berlin Marathon last year and can def say it's fast!! There's no way I should've finished it, but I did and had a good time to boot. The crowds were huge from 30km (Kurfürstendamm) on. I kept on saying...'Just keep going until the next drink station..' and it worked. The Paris Marathon is the most scenic I've ever done. Done it the last 3 years...haven't done the half though...Might do the half instead of the full marathon this year because I was too late registering for the full marathon this year. I can't believe they filled 35 000 starting spots 3 months before the race. Shite! I was hoping to do it 4 years in a row...

Canuck: Wasn't the Paris marathon last weekend?

@Tench: Yep it was...and I missed it. Just saw that the Paris half was already held in March this year. Shite...ah well. Maybe I'll do the Vienna or Copenhagen Marathons this summer??

Guys

I'm trying (with no success) to get some people together on Sat. mornings for long runs.

I'm doing Berlin this September.

Anyone interested? Started the club myself(!) on Saturday along the Isar past the Gardens. Great running.

Hi,

Im planning on doing the Munich marathon this October, so happy to join in some longer runs at the weekend !
Saturday /Sunday mornings depending on mountain biking or hiking plans !!!

let me know when the next long run will be, time and starting point ?
cheers

Nice one, Wildflower. Welcome to Munich (?). Is this your first marathon? I just spent all of April on the phone to an Aussie mate doing London first time. She did a cracking 3hrs 32, for which I, of course, take ALL the credit.

Any tips etc. please mail me. You will definitely be needing as many long Saturday runs as humanly possible over the summer to get you over the wall come the 20 mile mark in October. Its all miles in the Bank!

What is your mileage currently like? I'm running this Sat. (10 a.m.) from Isartor S-Bahn. The route is over the River and up the woods, tracking back through the Gardens. Its stunning. If you've had enough, just pick the first bridge, and head back to town.

Nope not my first marathon, done a few and some off road
But my first in a year since moving... training has been a bit upside down, this last year

currently
running 1.5 to 2 hours at steady pace, last marathon was 3hours 20...would like to break 3hours but need some miles in the legs ...

Crickey that's a good time! Mine is only 3.18! You could get a ladies invite to London with that time I think.

Anyhow, it sounds like we are running at about the same pace. So you on for Saturday? Hopefully a few others will be joining.

This is my first post here, so hope it works. I'm visiting Munich in October (from British Columbia, Canada) and am seriously thinking of doing the marathon while there. I understand that the beverage provided is called Basica. I've not heard of it and am sure it's not likely available here. Anyone know how it compares to Gatorade or Powerade? I've used both of those without problem. And what is the weather generally like? I understand the route is fairly flat? Any tips or advice would be most appreciated. Thanks

I did the marathon last year so I may be able to help...

The course is very flat the only uphill stretch is by Rosenheimerplatz and is only 50m. Last year the weather was cold, windy and wet for the start. You will get great support around the course especially after going into Schwabing after the Englischer Garten Deadzone (around 35km). Basica was the drink along with water offered last year but I only took the water, you can drop off your own drinks before the race if you like.

Also if you want to run a certain time there will be pacesetters with ballons marking 2.30, 2.45,3.00 etc...

That info helps. Nice to hear it's flat. Cold might be a welcome relief to my last marathon in Boston where it was in the 30's. Do you remember how cold it was? Is that usual for that time of year? I'm hoping for shorts and singlet weather. Maybe I'm dreaming!

@L2R

I also did Munich twice. On both occasions it was about 9 degrees and overcast at 09:00 in the morning. For me that's the perfect long-distance temperature. I normally get cold very quickly and wore a vest and a jacket. The jacket got taken off after an hour already. Just a vest was fine then. At the end you anyway shower and change immediately. Last year it was raining and about 9 degrees. It was raining heavily and for that I was glad not to have participated. Good luck to you!

Can anyone give me advice on the best area or district to stay? I'd like to be close to the start, but also accessible to some good areas to tour around. Any suggestions re hotels?

"In Muenchen" reports that after the marathon, a special event will be held at the 'Lights of Joy' exhibition at Olympiapark. More info here.

So who is running the Munich Marathon this year? If I have a clue who you are, I'll cheer you on from the living room windows. I'm even toying with the idea of having a few people over, so there could be a few of us cheering you on. It's at about that oh-so-not-so-critical 10km mark, but it seemed to be appreciated last year, none the less.

Hi Showem,

Ahh yes the fantastic 10km mark last year!!! This year I will only watch it so good luck to everyone doing it...

Will be running it with Mrs. thejarvii's Aunt. Seeing as she is in her mid-50's you'd think it'd be a nice slow run. Unfortunately not since she usually clocks in around 3:45 these days. Just hoping to survive the day! Luckily, she is running the D.C. Marine Core marathon in 3 weeks so this is just a warmup and I convinced her that we should just shoot for 4 hours .

We actually live at the 6km/37km point so Mrs. thejarvii and the 'lil jarvii will have a good view from our balcony as we pass on by.

We'll look for you at 10km and give you a wave!

Support is always well appreciated in a marathon, no matter if it's the 2k mark or 40.5k...which is why I will be cheering the runners on in a few places.

I ran the Munich marathon the past two years, but this year the (in) famous Cologne marathon was my pick.

Either way, all the best to all TT running in Minga. Good luck!

Where can we meet up to cheer the runners on? English Garden might be a good place, close to Chinese Tower.

honestly, the stretch where runners need the support the most is the entire English Garden part (27k to 37k). Why the organisers placed this part so late in the race is beyond me. Even on a nice day, there aren't many spectators out there to cheer the runners on, and as a runner you're alone with your thoughts and agony. It's really the worst stretch of the marathon. So I am sure this year's runners would really welcome any support they can get out there.

btw, the course doesn't actually lead past the Chinese Tower. the course takes a right hand turn into the Garden before hand.

i actually followed a friend on bike, well, met him at the km markers and waited. was great cause a lot of people recognized me and were really appreciative. got to know munich pretty by bike well then.
good luck to all runners!

I am planning to run on Sunday despite a cold which is killing me today and i only hope i can breath ok by sunday... i just thought i share that with you guys...

I am planning to run on Sunday despite a cold which is killing me today and i only hope i can breath ok by sunday... i just thought i share that with you guys...

Oh boy, hope you feel better by Sunday! Running a marathon with a cold is a bitch. I got sick the week before Munich last year and the year before, but was healthy enough to finish at least. Good luck!

Good luck everyone!!! I only know one runner from the site - mels - but good luck to all.

You know its gonna really hurt. You know you are gonna be walking like you've been abused by a gorilla for a week. But its worth it.

My Dublin T-Shirt from 2003 has an interesting message:

"The seven stages of a marathon:

1. Ritual
2. Shock
3. Denial
4. Isolation
5. Despair
6. Euphoria
7. Repeat"

I ran Berlin two Sundays ago and it was shit. Hot as a sweaty hot thing, and I had been suffering from runny tummy for two months. Needless to say I was exhausted from the start, and finished in a very disappointing 3.49 (for all the training I did). But the docs said I would be mad to run, but tickets and hotel were booked.

The weather on Sunday should be perfect. Cold but dry?

Tip from my physio - don't do a proper stretch beforehand. Just light 7 second easy ones. A proper stretch knackers the muscles. And you'll all warm up nicely after the first few Kms anyway.

Any tips for a spring marathon anyone? Apart from London?

Paris an option?

(I'm obviously going through stage 7)

7 seems to be the one connected with Alzheimers so yah that's about rite.

@MTV

If you are interested in running a marathon in woodland here is one for May next year.

Rennsteiglauf

Nice one Yeti.

I'll give the ultra marathon a miss. I'm ill, but not ill enough to run 72 kms through the bush.

But the link is going in with my favourites. Food for thought over winter.

ps. for anyone interested, I've called up Munich Road Runners - they sound like a typically friendly bunch of runners. Desperate for new foreign club members. All sorts of runs are on offer - Sunday long ones in English Gardens, speed/interval sessions at Olympia midweek, even swimming and general fitness groups.

www.mrrc.de

@MTV

A couple of guys from work are going to the Rennsteig in May and I'm humming and hawing between the half marathon and the full marathon at the moment, in case you're interested in signing up for it.

@More Tea Vicar: The Paris marathon is a great marathon in every sense of the word. Run it if you can...but sign up early...like now.

I did Berlin last year and had a great time...even though I barely finished. The supporters, crowd and tea made it great.

I'm debating whether I should register for Sundays run. We'll see...

@MTV: I was thinking about joining up with MRRC. They seem to have the only Triathlon club in the city. Let me know if you're heading down. I might join..

@Yeti: Might well be up for doing the marathon. Sounds pretty good training. Especially with a bit of altitude..

Good luck to everyone running on sunday!

yes, good luck runners! please say hi as you pass me on the course. i'll be the one crying and swearing as sniffles (planetmoni) drags me behind her. good times.

as for interesting races for the future... i've always been intrigued by the Medoc region marathon. I think it is in September, and combines running with another of my favorite hobbies... drinking.

cheers!

Mels, one of our Hashers does the Medoc marathon every year. Come along in two weeks (or this Saturday if you are feeling particularly brave) and he can tell you all about it.

Not exactly a Marathon, but San Francisco has the Bay to Breakers run on May 21 next year. It's more of a fun event although some participants take it seriously enough to wear running clothes. Others don't. Wear clothes, I mean. Others do, sort of. www.baytobreakers.com

ahhhh. Bay to Breakers... I'm a San Franciscan and have participated in this race several times. It's always a good time... it's part community spectacle, part sporting event, really. Every year a big group of folks dress up in salmon costumes and "swim" upstream... And there's nothing like rubbing shoulders with naked sweaty runners huffing their way uphill (hopefully rubbing stays confined to shoulders).

Okay, in case any runner is still up, and possibly going to read this, I'm going to mark the road just before my house. It will be written in flour, across the road. It will say:

ON ON

T0YTOWN

On On for the Hashers I know running, Toytown for the likes of you. At this point you should look up and wave to the pink building.

The Marathon has started and they're nearing Schwabing now...am going out to watch. BTW. I decided (wisely) not to run myself. I am a lazy bastard.

Ahhhh I could see them from our window, but they did not go past our house.. bummer...

Update: After 12km Mr. Jarvii is looking strong.

That was fun. Saw a bunch of people I knew, gave beer to one and cheered people on from the 11, 30 and 34km marks. Hope everyone finished and isn't aching too badly, nor nipples bleeding too much.

Didn't run it myself, but the finish was amazing and the bands along the route were great. Must say I was very impressed with the racket the supporters made especially with those strange things they swing around. Very-well organised race. Will definitely be doing it myself next year...

Well done to all those who completed it!

AFter running Munich the last two years, this was my first Medien Marathon on the "other side", and it was just as much of a goosebump experience as running it myself! A big congrats to all TTers and everyone else who made it! You're the best!

I stood at Leopoldstraße (37.5k), and it was a great experience, seeing the agony but also the pride and the joy, and then the smiles of the runners grateful for the support. Everyone who has run Munich knows how much the 11k between the entry into the E Garden and the exit at 37k stink and suck because you are all alone, and there is NO one for an hour. I've wanted to drop out there myself during my first race here, but Leopoldstraße and the support there got me to the finish.

Again, congrats to everyone!

I was following the race yesterday morning...I biked around half the course along side the runners and I've gotta say that would be one tough race to run. There are not many supporters outside of the city center...why the hell do they route the course through Berg-am-Laim and Zamdorf? You're basically running by yourself and then you hit the Englisher garden near the end which is total isolation. If you make it back to Leopoldstr and civilization, you should be alright as the crowd energy will propel you to the finish..

Yep. Congrats to anybody who ran.